Using Atlanta Real Estate 4U to Plan Your Move

You can pick the specific services at Atlanta Real Estate 4 U that meet your particular real estate needs. If you are relocating to Atlanta, I recommend that you use the general guidelines provided below. These guidelines can be used as a checklist for finding potential homes and can be printed for future reference. Before you start, I recommend that you obtain a map of the Metro Atlanta Area. Neighborhoods, schools, houses, and other landmarks that are important to you should be annotated on the map as you complete each of the steps below.

1. Check Rose Carl's current listings (pictures and detailed descriptions are provided for each property) and examples of recent home sales. The purpose of this first step is to obtain an initial feel for what is available on the market and what can be purchased within a given price range. Direct links are provided to facilitate easy completion of this first step. Note: You are only reviewing a select few properties in this step. Don't worry, in subsequent steps, you will search the entire multiple listing service (MLS) for Atlanta.
2. Compare the cost of living in Atlanta to your current location. Direct links to menu driven cost of living comparitors are provided. Understanding how the cost of living in Atlanta compares with your current location is an important factor in determining how much you can afford to spend on your new home. Also consider how your salary will change.
3. Determine current average mortgage rates for the Metro Atlanta Area. If you know the specific type of loan you will be applying for, find the average rates for that type of loan (e.g. 30 year conventional fixed rate mortgage). Direct links to rate comparison charts are provided. You are not actually shopping for a mortgage in this step or trying to get a precise rate. The rate will be used in calculating how much you can afford in the next step. Currently most fixed rate loans are in the range of 7.5 to 8.5%. Variable rate loans are lower.
4. Determine the amount of money you can afford or desire to spend on your monthly mortgage payment (principal, interest, taxes and insurance). Consider the results of step 2 in this evaluation. Subtract the estimated monthly taxes and insurance from this amount to determine the amount you can spend on principal and interest (this will be used in step 5 to determine how much you can borrow). For rough calculations, you can assume that taxes run approximately $120 per month per $100,000 in house value, and that insurance runs approximately $20 per month per $100,000 in house value. You will need to verify these numbers prior to actually purchasing a home.

For example, assume that you desire a home in the $200,000 range and that you can afford a total monthly payment of $1,600. For a home in this range, taxes would run approximately $240 per month and insurance would run approximately $40 per month ($280 total for taxes and insurance). Therefore, the amount you can spend on principal and interest would be $1,320 (i.e. $1,600 - $280).

5. Using the mortgage rate from step 3 and the amount you can afford or desire to spend monthly on principal and interest, use our mortgage calculator to determine the total amount you can borrow. Add to this number any planned down payment to determine the total house price you can afford (don't forget, although some special loans require no down payment, many loans require 5 - 10% down).
6. Research counties to narrow your house hunting location. Our site provides information on Metro Atlanta counties with links to many county and city web sites. These sites will help you learn about each county and what it has to offer. Skip this step if you have already narrowed your search to specific counties.
7. Research neighborhoods to find general locations around the Metro Atlanta area that have neighborhoods meeting your specific needs (e.g. large lots, newer homes, golf or tennis clubs, etc.). This is a good way to find neighborhoods that are similar to your current one. Compile a list of potential neighborhoods. I suggest that you mark neighborhoods meeting your search criteria on a map of Atlanta.
8. Research schools to locate specific schools that meet your particular needs. Compile a list of desired schools. I suggest that you annotate these schools on the map described above.
9. Search the multiple listing service (MLS) and the FMLS to find homes meeting your specific search criteria (this is a detailed search with user specified criteria using the MLS/FMLS databases). Be as selective as possible in specifying your initial search criteria. You can always run additional searches with relaxed criteria. I suggest that you initially select criteria that describes the "perfect" home for you.
10. Review each of the homes meeting your initial screening in step 9 to eliminate homes that you would not want to visit (in some cases this can be done by simply looking at the external house picture provided through MLS/FMLS). Compile a list of homes meeting your search criteria. I suggest that you mark the location of each house on the map described above.
11. Research county and city services in the vicinity of potential homes. Additionally, determine the location of any additional landmarks (e.g. Churchs, parks, golf courses, malls, major roads, hospitals) that are important to you. Again, I suggest that you mark the location of these landmarks on your map. By marking the map in each applicable step, you can now easily see how the location of specific houses compares with desired neighborhoods, schools and special landmarks.
12. Verify that the distance and mode of transportation to your new work location are satisfactory for you. This may help to further refine your list and result in some neighborhoods and homes being removed from your list.
13. After completing steps 1 - 12 (several hours of work), you should have a much better feel for what you can afford and potential locations to live. I strongly recommend that you contact a real estate agent at this point. Obviously, I (Rose Carl) would welcome your business. You can provide me a copy of your list of potential neighborhoods, schools, houses, and other special consideration. With this I will be able to look for other newly listed homes in the future that meet your needs. Additionally, I can help arrange your house hunting trip to Atlanta and help you find the "perfect house" while you are visiting (we may even find it before you arrive!).
14. Research and select a mortgage type and mortgage company. We have direct links to help you find the mortgage and company that is right for you. Although not required, recommend that you pre-qualify for a loan as this may help you when negotiating for a specific home. This step may be performed in parallel with any previous steps.
15. Arrange and conduct your house hunting trip. Our links will help you arrange your house hunting trip (e.g. find a hotel, find a flight, find a rental car, check weather).